Chapter 5: Form is Emptiness (6)
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【Ding! Shiyuan’s favorability toward you has risen to 40%.
Your Luck Value has increased by 2000, bringing your total Luck Value to 5690 points.】
Lin Nan glanced at the system notification, marveling once more at how Liao Chen was such a treasure trove of Luck Value! If she could get the favorability up to 100%, she could rake in thousands of points more.
Compared to the measly two or three thousand points she had with Little Shiyuan, it was clear that the more effort you put in, the bigger the return.
Her relentless fight through hardships to rescue him was definitely worth it!
“Monk, did you miss me?”
Perhaps due to too much energy expended, and having just survived a narrow escape from d*ath, Liao Chen’s handsome face was slightly flushed.
When he saw the familiar Frost North Snow return, he sighed, deciding that whatever needed to be said could wait until they got outside.
If she asked something he couldn’t answer, silence was his best friend.
“Monk, if you don’t speak, I’ll just take that as a yes!”
Lin Nan cheerfully yanked him up from the rocky ledge, and he plopped down on the slightly warm ground, quietly reflecting that if it hadn’t been for Frost North Snow’s timely arrival, he would have probably melted into the lava by now, turning into total ash!
“So, what did you find?”
Liao Chen shook his head. “It’s a den of demons down there. Besides a mountain of insect eggs, there’s no sign of the Demon Emperor.”
Lin Nan raised an eyebrow. “Could it be the prophecy is faulty?”
Liao Chen replied, “Not necessarily; maybe we just haven’t found where the Demon Emperor is truly hiding.”
While they were chatting, a swarm of Fallen Species erupted from the dark red glowing cave.
Clearly, they had no intention of letting the duo escape. They seemed particularly furious that two intruders had dared to stumble into their nest.
Lin Nan quickly spotted the completely red Fallen Species among them.
No doubt, it was the leader! If they took it down, perhaps this whole battle could wrap up nicely.
“ROAR!”
But before Lin Nan could even make a move, the Fallen Species charged from the air, weapons drawn, ready for a grand attack.
With her sword in her right hand and forming a magic seal with her left, Lin Nan kept a serious expression, not letting the good luck points get her complacent.
“Clang, clang!”
With the boost of her newfound strength, Lin Nan unleashed her unique swordplay like a silver net, wrapping Liao Chen safely behind her.
Every single attack from the rushing Fallen Species was blocked with mastery.
“System, I want to block all their attacks, even if it drains my Luck Value bit by bit!”
【Received!】
With the system’s reply boosting her confidence, Lin Nan became even more fearless. Just as several Fallen Species’ weapons clashed with hers, she executed an incredible sword move, slicing through their throats at astonishing angles.
Liao Chen watched, heart racing, feeling even more nervous than if he were the one in the fray.
It was then he realized that Frost North Snow’s strength was almost on par with his own.
The last time they had dueled, her victory over him had been no mere fluke.
It seemed they still had a chance to escape this wretched place.
After catching a quick breather, Liao Chen didn’t want to stay under the woman’s protection for too long. He leaped out of the safety zone, his fiery palms ready to meet the aerial Fallen Species head-on.
Lin Nan shot him a look—she had no intention of crushing his newfound enthusiasm.
The fact that she managed to raise a famous monk’s favorability to this level made her feel a bit giddy inside.
This triumph was incomparable, knowing someone of his stature was developing feelings for her!
But if she wanted to take it a step further, it likely wouldn’t be that easy.
【Warning! Warning!】
What’s happening?
Suddenly, a line of text flashed in Lin Nan’s vision, and she immediately became alert, fearing the system was about to pull some crazy stunt again.
【Warning! Warning!】
【Due to the vastness of your established worldview in this dimension, the strength of top-tier beings is far beyond the limit, leading to uncontrollable chain reactions.】
“…You mean, the appearance of the Fallen Species is just the beginning?”
【Not only that, the course of the world line may be altered due to your careless words.
Of course, everything is still within the system’s control, but the cost of your mission will correspondingly increase.】
“You mean the consumption of Luck Value?”
【Correct.】
After that, the system fell silent once again.
Although Lin Nan didn’t understand why the system had to issue a warning at that moment, it was clearly an ominous sign.
She had to leave with the Bald Man quickly.
The longer they stayed, the higher the risks.
“Monk, we shouldn’t linger here.”
“Yeah.”
As they sprinted faster, they did their best to fend off the pursuing Fallen Species from above.
Unfortunately, the number of Fallen Species was far more than they had imagined. It was truly their stronghold.
Imagining if these tens of thousands of Fallen Species swarmed humanity made Lin Nan shudder at the potential disastrous results.
Killing even one would lessen the burden on humans.
With that thought, Liao Chen swung his fists without reservation, landing heavy blows on the enemies that got too close.
“Thud, thud, thud…”
The entirely red Fallen Species leader appeared again, each flap of its wings sending waves of force crashing into them.
But for some reason, it now looked bigger than before, and its previously black-tipped wings had lost all imperfections, making it look pristine.
Its weapon was no longer the mouthpiece of fallen comrades, but rather a gleaming short sword that shimmered softly.
“ROAR!”
With its roar, all the Fallen Species screeched in response.
Their voices echoed against the narrow rock walls, urging Liao Chen and Lin Nan to pick up the pace.
The enemies were getting stronger, and this was definitely not a good sign.
“Boom!”
The Fallen Species leader suddenly charged at them with high speed. Lin Nan gritted her teeth, drawing her sword to shield Liao Chen.
Just in time, she spent 100 Luck Points to barely withstand the powerful blow.
Even so, she was slammed against the rock wall, bl**d rushing through her body in chaos.
The Fallen Species leader now set its sights on Liao Chen.
The Bald Man didn’t dare confront it directly, dodging its attacks with agile maneuvers.
But soon, as the surrounding Fallen Species closed in, the space for his evasive jumps grew smaller by the second.
Just as the leader’s next strike was about to slice through Liao Chen’s neck, Lin Nan screamed, “No!”
If their target died, wouldn’t all her hard work go to waste?
“System, I need to save him!”
【Received. You will spend all your Luck Value. Are you willing?】
“Absolutely! Hurry up! No time for chit-chat!”
In the next instant, Lin Nan’s pupils were met with the ghastly face of the Fallen Species leader up close.
It startled her.
At the same moment, a near-desperate shout came from Liao Chen behind her.
“No…”
